Atlas HO Trainman Cupola Caboose Southern Pacific 1170

The Atlas HO Trainman Cupola Caboose Southern Pacific 1170 models the cupola caboose, which supposedly was invented in 1863 by T. B. Watson, a Conductor on the Chicago & North Western Railway, It was called a "cupola" caboose because an extension was built on top of the caboose with windows and seating for the crew, which enabled the crew greater visibility of the train in front of them (A "cupola" is defined as a structure built on top of a building as a lookout or to admit light or air).Cupola cabooses became the "standard" design for the caboose during the 19th and 20th Centuries. Newer designs such as bay window cabooses and extended vision cabooses (a type of cupola caboose) began replacing the cupola caboose in the late 1920s. However, the cupola caboose remained popular for many years after the new styles were introduced.

Different Road Number than the Image.

Road Name and History:

Southern Pacific Railroad: Southern Pacific started as a land holding company in 1865. Under the direction of Collis Huntington, SP absorbed the original western end of the first transcontinental railroad,Central Pacific. The Southern Pacific grew into a major Western railroad, with routes extending from California to New Orleans and Portland, OR, by 1900. SP was by far the dominant rail carrier in California, where their alleged heavy-handed policies incurred public wrath. Also around 1900 the Southern Pacific came under the control of E. H. Harriman who also controlled the Union Pacific. Natural merger partners, the Supreme Court broke the two rail giants apart in 1913. In 1932 Southern Pacific gained access to St. Louis by gaining control of the Cotton Belt. Once a Western railroad powerhouse, an aborted merger with Santa Fe in the 1980s left the carrier weak. In 1988 it was purchased by Rio Grande Industries, which also owned the Denver & Rio Grande Western. Operating under the name Southern Pacific, the merged company struggled to find its footing until rescued by Union Pacific in 1996. E. H. Harriman's dream had at last come true.

Travel Tip: The California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, CA, is a great place to see Southern Pacific locomotives and rolling stock on display and learn more about this great American railroad.

Features:

True Scale Dimensions model the actual prototype

Accurate paint sceme and markings per Road Name

Weighted, detailed underframes

Trucks are equipped with free rolling metal wheels

Attention to detail includes clear window inserts and separately applied side railings